The wonderful Tom Miller has worked tirelessly to significantly add to our knowledge of this Military rail unit but also to recognize his neighbor's service to our country. Thanks Tom

He writes... Fred and Genevieve Inman lived in the Fallston, MD area since the late 1960’s. When we moved in next door to the Inmans, Fred and I found that we had a mutual love for the Fire Department … Fred used to work as a fireman and I currently work as a fireman.

Unfortunately Fred passed away not long after we moved in, but along with his history in the Fire Department, we also knew of his service in WWII. His wife Gen remained in the house next door and we became very close. It was like living next door to our grandmother.

When she passed away recently, we came across the album which contained all the pictures that Fred had taken during his service with the 753rd Railway Battalion. We wanted to share and preserve this history, and we hope others will appreciate it as much as we do.

The photographer of this beautiful photo postcard, showing the 8002 in a great 3/4 engineer's side view which was taken in Alexandria, Virginia on March 21, 1920 may have been the late, great Joseph Lavelle, then of Winfield, Long Island, New York, who was one of America's earliest railroad photographers and collectors.

This engine was built as a five foot gauge locomotive for the Imperial Russian Railways by American Locomotive Company Richmond Works in March, 1918, winding up, instead as U. S. Army property. The Army and Navy photos are all 2 3/4" x 4 1/4" and while we do not know who the photographer was the date and location are on the border below each photo.

The Army photos are: US Air Force 7050 at Maguire Air Force Base, Oct, 1957; Army 1674 switching at Fort Dix, New Jersey, engine house on right, May, 1970; Army 7172 at Fort Dix, 10-57; Army 1674 close-up, Fort Dix, 5-1970; line up of at least nine center cab diesel locomotives at Fort Holabird, Maryland, Jan '57, 1217 closest to camera; great side view of unnumbered diesel at Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania, 9-69. I THINK Tobyhanna was a weapons depot. The two Navy images, both at White Plains, MD, both Dec 1958: caboose between freight car and diesel, can not read number and center cab diesel USN 65-00348.

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If you have any materials connected to these great Army Railway units please share them here with the families of the soldiers. If you are a collector or memorabilia dealer PLEASE share copies or scans of items BEFORE you sell these priceless materials to private collectors . I will hold the copies until after they sell. It means so much to the families of the guy's that actually served in these units.

Contact me : Nancy militaryrailwayservice@gmail.com

I try to buy items when they becomes available, but I do not have unlimited funds - consider making a donation to help this archive! Use PayPal link above !